Travel and Recreational Ball?

by Jack Ambrose
(Ohio)

I recently had a difference of opinion with another softball parent. I sometimes notice that some travel ball players do not continue to play in their local recreational league once they make a travel team. My opinion is that they should always continue to play rec league in addition to travel ball, at least until they get to high school, since most teams usually only enter 6-8 travel tournaments in a season. I believe the extra play in rec league is beneficial to the player, as well as the local league.

My counterpart, whose daughter only plays travel ball, believes that there is not enough talent and competition in rec league to benefit the better players. Well, I agree if all the better players abandon rec for travel ball exclusivly. If they all played both, this concern would not exist. It all starts with recreational leagues, so i think it is important to keep them going strong.